noun
tail
TAYL
noun
1
The flexible appendage extending from the rear of an animal's body.
"The dog wagged its tail excitedly when its owner came home."
"A peacock's tail feathers fan out in a striking display."
2
The rear or last part of something, such as an aircraft's tail section or the end of a line or sequence.
"The plane's tail was damaged by the storm."
"We caught the tail end of the meeting."
3
The side of a coin opposite the head, or (informally) someone secretly following another person.
"She called tails, and the coin landed showing the eagle."
"The detective put a tail on the suspect."
verb
1
To follow someone closely and secretly, typically to observe them.
"Police officers tailed the van for several blocks before making an arrest."
How to Use Tail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe part at the back end of an animal, object, or event — or, as a verb, to secretly follow someone.
Common mistake
As a verb meaning "follow secretly," tail is informal/journalistic — don't use it in formal writing where "follow" or "trail" fits better.
Common pairings
wag its tail
tail of the plane
heads or tails
tail someone
Word Forms
tailed past tense, tails plural, tails singular
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The dog wagged its _____ excitedly when its owner came home.
Etymology
From Old English tægl ("tail"), going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "hair" or "hair of the tail."